Grab Bag vol.17
Arizona Moon
I’m later than I want to be on this one, for a few reasons:
There have been a lot of bad scary things, globally, and I don’t have anything to add to it but it also felt totally not of the moment to be like “here is some dumb thought that popped into my head” so I posted nothing.
I have to admit my shame that I have failed on my 52 Week photo project. I failed on week 2 and I’m still totally without inspiration. Never announce your intentions! Then everyone will know when you fail!
I wanted to have a long-form blog posted but the story I’m trying to tell isn’t really coming together, so that’s another miss. Maybe I’ll post it anyway. Is it more shameful to post a bad story or to give up on a story?
All of this is a bummer because the entire point of these “Grab Bags” was to NOT have pressure. So!
I enjoyed this Substack post about over-consumption in running.
Back in March, I ran a wonderful small race in southern Arizona. I did this solely because of my Forest Project. This was the first race that felt like it was really only for that reason. I didn’t feel particularly great or strong during the 25 mile run, but holding onto the reason I was there kept me in a pretty good mood, all things considered. The sunrise was great, for example. I ran into someone I knew at this tiny little race, and it was delightful to catch up with her.
I’m always trying to take away lessons from every race - you always learn something - but I got a little stuck after this one. I keep making the same mistakes and learning the same things over and over again. Maybe I’m learning the wrong thing. What if I’m actually supposed to learn that I’m not cut out for this?
Of course, I’m stubborn, so now I’ve got a 50K in June to prove that last thought wrong.
I read a book of poetry called Stay Dead by Natalie Shapero and it was delightful and dark and funny and true. Not for everyone, but it was for me.
I’m proud of my deadlift PR! I’m proud of something my body did! That is SO NEW!
I had to get a small piece of my mouth cut out for a biopsy, which hurt for a week and required stitches in my cheek, but on the plus side I don’t have oral cancer. Nope, just another autoimmune thing; this time the inside of my mouth just decides to attack itself for no reason. Less proud of my body for that one.
I’m a sauna person now? Who knew that sauna culture and contrast therapy (heat+cold plunge) was an entire subculture in Boulder. I didn’t, but now I am part of it. I’ve met some fun, interesting people and I weirdly love it. I can plunge in 34 degree water (though my ideal is 54 degrees) and, less surprising to those who know me, I can sweat in 220+ dry heat for 15 minutes, happily.
I made a streetlight piñata for work and everyone loved it and it was a fun little project and my wonderful, lovely, delightful friends helped me build it. Love to them all.
Pinata (It’s funnier if you know what it’s supposed to be)
More to come. Soon.